ELECTRO MAGNETIC WAVES

Origin of the idea

•The invention of electromagnetic

waves is an example for intuition.
The question
•A changing magnetic field produces an
induced current, which in turn an electric
field. Why can’t a changing magnetic field
produce a magnetic field?

OR
Can we expect an analogous equation for V=
∫E.dl = dφb/dt (Faraday’s law)
in magnetism ?
The Answer
• The answer is YES
and the place to search is the capacitor
of an LC oscillator.

A charge is oscillating in the outer circuit

which is producing a changing electric field in
between the plates.

- -
S
•From guass’s law,

φE =Q /εO

dφE /dt = 1/εO dQ/dt

dQ / dt should dimensionally represent

a current
But there is no conduction current inside
the capacitor. So let us introduce a new
concept, the displacement current id
Let id =dq/dt = εo dφE /dt
Applying Ampere circuital theorem

∫B.dl= µoid ,

∫B.dl= µo εO
dφE /dt

Which is exactly
CONCLUSION:
• Inside the plates of a capacitor connected to an
oscillator, there is a fluctuating electric
field coupled with a fluctuating magnetic field.

•This will propagate from the capacitor as a

transverse wave, whose frequency is equal to
the frequency of the oscillator.
•For an LC circuit this frequency is

f= 1/ (2π√LC)
 •Heinrich Hertz succeeded in producing
EM waves of Hz frequency.

•To see the Hertz experiment,click on the

link:

•XII pc\main.exe
•Later the great Indian scientist Jagadish
Chandra bose produced radio waves, but
went unnoticed.

•The fame went to Marconi who produced the

waves and transmitted them upto a certain
distance.

•Thus begun the era of radio

transmission.
Properties of EM waves
• Electromagnetic waves have an electric field
coupled with a magnetic field perpendicular
to it.
• The direction of propagation is perpendicular to
both electric field and magnetic field. Hence EM
waves are transverse.
• The electric and magnetic fields are oscillating
with same phase, same frequency.
• The ratio E/B = 1/√µε =
v , the velocity of the wave.
Properties of EM waves
• Electromagnetic waves travels along
vacuum with a speed of 3 x 108 ms-1
• Electromagnetic waves carry energy and
momentum and also exerts radiation
pressure.
• The momentum of an elctromagnetic
wave p=U/c
• Total energy per unit volume
½ B 2/ µ + ½ ε E2
o o
 STANDARD EQUATION

• E=Eosin (kz -ωt) i

(for electric field propagating along +ve x axis.)

•B= Bo sin( kz-ωt) j

(for mag field propagating along +ve y axis.)

•Note: k = propogation constant = 2π / λ

THE ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM
 Frequency range Wavelength range
WAVE From Hz to From m to

Radio 3 x 10 3
3 x10 11
10 5 10-3

Micro 5 x 109 1012 3 x 10-4 6 x10-2

Infrared 1012 4 x 1014 8 x10-7 3 x 10-4
Visible 4 x 1014 8 x 1014 4 x 10 -7 7 x 10-7
Ultra 8 x 10 14 1016 1 x 10-7 4 x 10-7
violet
X ray 1016 3 x 10 19 10-10 3 x 10-8
Gamma 3 x 10 19
5 X10 20
6 X 10 - 13 10-10
 WAVE ORIGIN
Radio Oscillating circuits
Micro Rotational transition of molecules
source-Vacuum tubes,Klystron valve

Infrared Vibrational transition in atoms

source-Nernst lamp, globar rod
Visible Electronic transition
Source-arc flame
Ultra violet Atomic excitation, mercury arc,
discharge tube
X ray Bombarding targets by electrons

Gamma Nuclear excitation

USES OF RADIO WAVES
• 10 Hz- 1 MHz ground wave transmission
• 1 MHz-10 MHz AM transmission
• 10 MHz-60 MHz SW
• 80-100 MHz FM
• 100-1000 MHz for TV
USES OF INFRARED WAVES
• Treatment of muscular strain
• For photography incase fog / smoke / long distance
• TV remote control rays
• Night goggles
• Dehydration of fruits
• Heating in solar cooker / water heater
• Keeps atmosphere warm
USES OF MICRO WAVES

• Radar systems
• Satellite communication
• Long distance telephone communication
• Microwave ovens
USES OF UV WAVES

• For sterilization (kills bacteria), water purification

• To detect forgery in currency, documents
• Burglar alarms (using photoelectric effect)
• Laser assisted eye surgery
• Checking mineral samples
• Produce vit -D (sun tan in skin)
USES OF X RAYS

• Detection of fractures
• X ray crystallography
• Detection of cracks flaws,leakages in welding
• Radiotherapy-treatment of skin diseases
• Detection of explosives ,smuggling of gold,silver
USES OF GAMMA RAYS

• Treatment of cancer,tumour